Boston Globe Review: The ‘Christmas Revels’ celebrates a new direction

Reviews

12.20.2021

From left: William Forchion, Regie Gibson, and Mark Jaster perform a scene from the mummers play in The Christmas Revels. PHOTO BY SHEPPARD FERGUSON

CAMBRIDGE — What was to have been the 50th annual “Christmas Revels” last year turned into “A Virtual Celebration” that recapitulated highlights from previous productions. This year, Revels returns live to Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, and it would appear that everything is back to normal. The51st annual “Christmas Revels” (for which there will also be a streaming option) is set in the present day at the George and Dragon, a 400-year-old English pub famous for its annual Christmas carol party. What could be more Revels-like than a pub named for the protagonists of the production’s annual mummers’ play?

Yet this “Christmas Revels” is different. For one, it’s announced as running just 90 minutes with no intermission. COVID-19 has put a temporary end to the tradition in which audiences snake-danced out into the vestibule to “Lord of the Dance.” More significant, as artistic director Paddy Swanson explains in a program note, is that Revels is re-examining its own rituals with an eye to “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” This year’s production, with Benny Sato Ambush as dramaturg, updates the mummers’ play and includes more contemporary music than we usually hear.

The Christmas Revels ensemble at the Sanders Theatre. PHOTO BY SHEPPARD FERGUSON

One thing that never changes about “The Christmas Revels” is the excellence of Jeremy Barnett’s set. His pub is anchored by a cozy fireplace over which hangs a dragon’s head and a string of Christmas cards. A Red Sox pennant is in evidence. The bar, stage right, boasts a “You’ll Never Walk Alone” banner underneath which reads “This Is LFC Official Membership,” both references to Liverpool Football Club, which is owned by the same entity, Fenway Sports Group, that owns the Red Sox. Bass ale is on tap, a last-call bell and a tip jar sit on the counter, and there’s a dartboard at the back. The Pickled Eggs House Band, led by saxophonist Edmar Colón, is stage left, the area festooned with a Rolling Stones poster.

The bad news is the George and Dragon was about to go under. The good news is it’s been saved by the new owners, an American couple. Joe (William Forchion) and Rita (Carolyn Saxon) have just gotten the carol singing started, and the Ha’Penny Wassail Children, who’re too young to be in the pub, have weighed in via Zoom, when a 17th-century Master of the Revels (Mark Jaster), his assistant Flunky (Sabrina Selma Mandell), and an Auditor (Regie Gibson) appear. It seems the George and Dragon was founded in 1621, and now the pub’s entertainment license is up for renewal. The criteria are, anachronistically, drawn from Susan Cooper’s 1977 poem “The Shortest Day” (which she wrote for Revels): “carol, feast, give thanks, dearly love their friends, and hope for peace.”

Carolyn Saxon and the cast of The Christmas Revels. PHOTO BY SHEPPARD FERGUSON

A face-off follows. The 17th-century performers who’ve accompanied the Master of the Revels sing “As I Rode Out This Enderes Night” and “The Boar’s Head Carol” and dance to tunes by John Dowland and Anthony Holborne. The 21st-century George and Dragon regulars reply with contemporary numbers that include the Crazy 8z using pool cues in a hip-hop version of the longsword dance, a wrenching “Homeless Wassail” led by master of ceremonies David Coffin, and Saxon lighting up Sanders Theatre with Bill Withers’s “Lean on Me,” the Stevie Wonder song “Someday at Christmas,” and Edwin Hawkins’s gospel arrangement of “Oh Happy Day.”

There’s one last test for the George and Dragon: the mummers’ play. No points for guessing that it’s Saint George (Jaster) and the Dragon (Forchion) who square off. But in the 2021 version, co-authored by Gibson and drawing on a tradition that stretches from “Beowulf” to contemporary American Black communities, the fighters trade not blows but hilariously good-natured insults. When Saint George at last does fall, the Doctor (Mandell) resurrects him with what looks suspiciously like a vaccine injection.

The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is absent from the 2021 “Christmas Revels,” but “Dona nobis pacem,” “The Shortest Day,” and “The Sussex Mummers’ Carol” are all in place. For “Lord of the Dance,” audience members are invited to stand, dance in place, and link pinky fingers if they choose.

All this is a lot to squeeze into 90 minutes. Friday’s opening night production ran closer to two hours. I for one had no complaints.

Jeffrey Gantz can be reached at je***********@gm***.com

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS 2021: IN CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE

Directed by Patrick Swanson. Music direction by George Emlen. Set by Jeremy C. Barnett. Costumes by Heidi Hermiller. Lighting by Jeff Adelberg. Sound by Bill Winn. Presented by Revels. At Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, through Dec. 29. $12-$100. Available virtually Dec. 30-Jan. 9. 617-496-2222, www.revels.org

share this story on social media

Related Stories
See More
Announcements
11.01.2024
Boston Music Intelligencer REVIEW: Going Deeper Underground with “Secret Byrd”

Read More

Announcements
11.01.2024
Events Insider REVIEW: Revels Presents Immersive Musical Theatrical Experience SECRET BYRD at

Read More

Blogs
11.01.2024
Secret Byrd Spotlight: Owain Park

Read More

Announcements
10.26.2024
The Boston Musical Intelligencer PREVIEW: Don’t Tell Anyone About “Secret Byrd”

Read More

Blogs
02.21.2024
Revels Fringe Spotlight: Seven Times Salt

Read More

Blogs
01.07.2024
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Marina & Lena Nugent

Read More

Blogs
12.22.2023
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Jacob & Mira Whiting

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2023
Boston Globe REVIEW: Midwinter Revels Serves Up a Frolicsome ‘Feast of Fools’

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2023
Theater Mirror REVIEW: Revels Goes Medieval in Swanson’s Swan Song with ‘Feast

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2023
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: You’d Be a Fool to Miss this Feast

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2023
Broadway World REVIEW: Midwinter Revels – A Journey of Comfort and Joy

Read More

Announcements
11.10.2023
Boston Globe HOLIDAY ARTS PREVIEW: A medieval ‘Midwinter Revels’ will suffer these

Read More

Blogs
09.18.2023
RiverSing Spotlight: Good Trouble Brass Band

Read More

Announcements
04.11.2023
Debra Wise Appointed Associate Artistic Director of Revels, Inc.

Read More

Blogs
01.12.2023
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Rosalba Solis

Read More

Blogs
01.05.2023
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Carolyn Saxon

Read More

Reviews
12.27.2022
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: Let the Revels’ Sun Shine into Your Home

Read More

Reviews
12.22.2022
The Arts Fuse REVIEW: “Midwinter Revels” — Unity, “Behold How Good”

Read More

Reviews
12.21.2022
New England Theater Mirror REVIEW: ‘Midwinter Revels’ Brings Together Multiple Cultures for

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2022
WBUR REVIEW: Revels is back with a more inclusive, rebranded holiday spectacular

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2022
Boston Globe REVIEW: A ‘Solstice Celebration’ for everyone

Read More

Blogs
12.16.2022
Midwinter Revels Chorus Spotlight – Heather Koerber Nunes and Jake Nunes

Read More

Announcements
05.19.2022
Chorus Auditions for The Midwinter Revels: A Celebration of the Solstice

Read More

Blogs
05.13.2022
Midwinter Revels – A Celebration of the Solstice

Read More

Blogs
03.19.2022
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Dr. Kathy Bullock

Read More

Blogs
03.11.2022
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Claire Dickson

Read More

Announcements
02.21.2022
In Memory of Ashley Bryan

Read More

Blogs
01.03.2022
Common Pursuits in Different Suits

Read More

Reviews
01.01.2022
The Sleepless Critic: ‘Christmas Revels In Celebration of Winter Solstice’ a clever

Read More

Reviews
12.31.2021
The Arts Fuse: “The Christmas Revels 2021” — As Usual, Rising in

Read More

Reviews
12.31.2021
Joyce’s Choices: The Christmas Revels

Read More

Reviews
12.23.2021
New England Theater Mirror: Christmas Revels Returns to Sanders Theater

Read More

Announcements
12.21.2021
Revels, Inc. Names Elijah Botkin as New Music Director

Read More

Reviews
12.20.2021
Boston Globe Review: The ‘Christmas Revels’ celebrates a new direction

Read More

Announcements
12.11.2021
Behind the Scenes at Revels

Read More

Blogs
11.23.2021
Thanks Giving

Read More

Blogs
10.08.2021
Meet Arkansas Light, Christmas Revels Production Stage Manager

Read More

Blogs
09.22.2021
Artist Spotlight: Ken Field

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
01.26.2021
Volunteer Spotlight: Haley Fisher

Read More

Reviews
12.29.2020
The Sleepless Critic Review: Christmas Revels 50th virtual anniversary delivers mirth, merriment,

Read More

Reviews
12.23.2020
Review: Christmas Classics – Virtual Editions and Good as New!!

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2020
Boston Globe Review: This virtual Christmas Revels is a virtual triumph

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
11.10.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Rachel Grygorcewicz

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
10.29.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Nick Browse

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
10.01.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Ross Hall

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
08.26.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Harvey Cohen

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
08.05.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Cathie Ghorbani

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
07.07.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Mari Young

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
06.30.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: Julie Smith

Read More

Blogs
05.19.2020
David Zooms to Perkins

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight
05.13.2020
Volunteer Spotlight: John Recroft

Read More

Blogs
04.30.2020
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2019
Review: Christmas Revels Brings Its Special Cheer to Depression Era America

Read More

Reviews
12.19.2019
BWW Review: THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: A Long Tradition of Community Forged Through

Read More

Reviews
12.17.2019
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – American Version

Read More

Reviews
12.16.2019
REVIEW: Nearly 50, Christmas Revels is better than ever

Read More

Reviews
12.14.2019
REVIEW: This Christmas Revels goes to the American heartland

Read More

Blogs
11.21.2019
Thanksgiving

Read More

Blogs
06.21.2019
Solstice Duality

Read More

Blogs
03.19.2019
Happy Spring!

Read More

Reviews
12.20.2018
REVIEW: Christmas Revels Celebrates the ‘Other’ Great White North

Read More

Reviews
12.18.2018
REVIEW: ‘The Christmas Revels’ points north

Read More

Reviews
12.18.2018
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – A Wonderful Nordic Celebration

Read More

Blogs
11.12.2018
Just Add Audience

Read More

Blogs
06.21.2018
The Longest Day

Read More

Blogs
05.16.2018
A Magical Experience: The Making of a CD

Read More

Blogs
02.14.2018
Malibu 2018

Read More

Reviews
12.27.2017
REVIEW: Revels’ ‘Venetian Celebration’ glitters

Read More

Reviews
12.13.2017
REVIEW: Old World Music, Comedy from Renaissance Era Lights Up Christmas Revels

Read More

Blogs
12.12.2017
St. Nicholas in Bohemia: Mikulas Eve

Read More

Reviews
12.10.2017
REVIEW: A handsome ‘Christmas Revels’ brings the party to Venice

Read More

Reviews
12.01.2017
A liberating holiday performance

Read More

Blogs
11.30.2017
The Master of the Revels

Read More

Blogs
06.21.2017
The Solstice Stands Revealed

Read More

Announcements
06.15.2017
Revels is here! Revels is here!

Read More

Blogs
05.24.2017
Striding Arches

Read More

Blogs
04.18.2017
Moonlighting with Shakespeare

Read More

Blogs
02.23.2017
What Blizzard?

Read More

Reviews
12.14.2016
Christmas Revels Enchants with Celebration of Acadian, Cajun Cultures

Read More

Announcements
12.12.2016
The Holy and the Broken Hallelujah Or How I learned to stop

Read More

Reviews
12.12.2016
This Acadian-Cajun Christmas Revels lets the good times roll

Read More

Reviews
12.04.2016
Annual Christmas Revels’ production fills the stage with delight

Read More

Blogs
06.06.2016
A Music Director Reflects

Read More

Blogs
04.11.2016
Fenway’s Ritual Earth

Read More

Announcements
03.08.2016
Welcome to Our New Music Director

Read More

Blogs
02.17.2016
Reflections on Malibu

Read More

Reviews
12.14.2015
‘Christmas Revels’ finally makes it to Wales

Read More

Blogs
12.10.2015
Christmas Revels – Looking Back and Looking Forward

Read More

Blogs
10.26.2015
Dylan Thomas: the intersection where poetry and drama meet

Read More

Announcements
09.16.2015
Revels Music Director George Emlen Announces His Retirement

Read More

Blogs
08.24.2015
Giving Voice

Read More

Blogs
07.17.2015
A Revels Director in Wales

Read More

Blogs
06.19.2015
Summer solstice: the year’s circus act

Read More

Reviews
06.12.2015
The Boston Globe profiles harpist Maeve Gilchrist and Revels FRINGE

Read More

Announcements
05.27.2015
Reporting on Education at Revels

Read More

Blogs
05.11.2015
The Great Flying Machine Race

Read More

Blogs
05.01.2015
The Wheel of the World

Read More

Blogs
04.13.2015
What’s Your Version of the Revels Elephant?

Read More

Announcements
01.26.2015
Farewell from Steve

Read More

Announcements
01.14.2015
Summer Camp

Read More

Reviews
12.17.2014
Fuse Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – Charming English Music Hall Edition

Read More

Reviews
12.17.2014
The Boston Globe Review: For Christmas Revels, a welcome return to Victorian

Read More

Reviews
12.16.2014
Events Insider Review: Christmas Revels Brings Victorian Dance Hall Celebration to Sanders

Read More

Reviews
12.15.2014
TAB Newspapers Theater Review: Revels transports audiences to Victorian England

Read More

Blogs
12.11.2014
The Crystal Palace

Read More

Blogs
09.16.2014
Don’t Blame Persephone

Read More

Blogs
07.07.2014
From the FRINGE: Who’s Maeve Listening to?

Read More

Blogs
06.20.2014
Solstice Fires

Read More

Blogs
04.25.2014
Patriot’s Day – My Favorite Holiday

Read More

Announcements
04.14.2014
A Forum on Arts Funding

Read More

Blogs
03.18.2014
Spring Forward

Read More

Blogs
03.03.2014
The Itinerant Musician

Read More

Announcements
02.05.2014
Welcome to the Revels blog

Read More

Stay up to date
with Revels.
Sign up to receive email updates on performances, events, and news coming from Revels.